The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-28
GEORGEISM IN PRACTICE.

Theories Like the Land Reformer's
Enacted Into Law by Congress.
A New York dispatch to the Cincinnati
Enquirer says: In well-lighted apartment
at the Fifth Avenue Hotel tonight | found
Gen. B. F. Butler reclining on a large easy
chair, which was completely filled by his
bulky form. There was a spray of apple
blossoms in the lapel of his carefully
brushed broadcloth coat. His great bald
head was shining with the rubbing it had
received from the brushes in the hands of
his valet The Generals mission here was
to make an argument in the Hoyt will case.
| asked him if he was going yachting this
summer and he replied ''Ah, surely. Life
would be burdensome without yachting"
II hear your name mentioned often in
political discussionsf
The General then threw back his big head
and answered with a quiet laugh that
seemed to shake his whole frame.
II am quite out of politics. he said.
Then he added more soberly: 81 accom-
plished in 1884 what l undertook to do.
worked up the workingmen of this country
to a realization Of the power Of organized
labor. That was all | tried to do and sue
ceeding events have shown that my attempt
was a successful one"
'Do you look on the vote OF Henry George
in New York as one of the results of your
canvaSSm
1.-The vote for George is only beginning.
1t is merely a sign of what will some day be.
1t is an indication of what is going on over
the entire country, and will continue to go
on. By the way, the land theories advo-
Gated by Henry George, which are held to
be so outrageous, are not materially differ
ent from theories that were enacted into law
by the last Congress"
''To what law do you referT
"Henry George says, does he not that he
wants all land titles to be held and con-
trolled by the government? Now, | will
show you something which was enacted
into law by Congress which is exactly in
line with the Henry George theory.
Taking up bundle of papers the General
selected large typewriter manuscript and
proceeded to read portions of IAN act en-
titled an act to restrict the ownership of real
estate in the Territories of the United States
to American citizens, ETC. Passed March
80, 1887" 1t is the act by which
aliens are prevented from acquiring
or holding real estate above a GER
tain number of acres in any Terri
tory of the United States or in the District
of Columbia. When the General had read
a few extracts from it he said: "Do you
catch the drift of that? 1t is plain enough
that if you begin by passing laws that an
alien shall not hold land in any number of
acres you are going long way with Henry
George in his theories of government con-
troll OF land titles. 1t is an entering wedge
Under this law foreign citizens may not
lease house in the District of Columbia or
in any Territory, although by
our treaties of amity and com
MERGE he is entitled to all the
rights of citizenship of this country He
may not lease a warehouse or a store be-
cause the lease is an interest in real estate
which he is forbidden to acquire. 1t is, in
short, direct and positive legislative step
in the direction of Henry Georges advo-
Gated theory. If this law is constitutional
it establishes the constitutionality of Henry
Georges plan. There are defects in the CON
struction of this law and other objections,
but the relation of it to Henry Georges land
movement was all cared to bring to your
attention.